Growing Beans - climbing, also Pole beans, Runner beans, Scarlet Runners

Phaseolus vulgaris, Phaseolus coccineus : Fabaceae / the pea or legume family

Jan F M A M J J A S O N Dec
      S S S S          
      T T T T T        
      P P P P          

(Best months for growing Beans - climbing in Australia - tropical regions)

  • S = Plant undercover in seed trays
  • T = Plant out (transplant) seedlings
  • P = Sow seed
  • Easy to grow. Sow in garden. Sow seed at a depth approximately three times the diameter of the seed. Best planted at soil temperatures between 16°C and 30°C. (Show °F/in)
  • Space plants: 10 - 20 cm apart
  • Harvest in 9-11 weeks.
  • Compatible with (can grow beside): Sweetcorn, spinach, lettuce, summer savory, dill, carrots, brassicas, beets, radish, strawberry, cucumbers, zucchini, tagates minuta (wild marigold)
  • Avoid growing close to: Alliums (Chives, leek, garlic, onions), Florence fennel

Your comments and tips

Post a comment or question Display Newest first | Oldest first, Show comments for Australia | for all countries
23 May 10, roger cooper (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
Where can I buy Runner bean seeds local to Melbourne ?
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21 May 18, Don (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
Email me, I have many at school in Narre Warren South, after years of searching for seeds... Free to a good home, but will need to be picked up :)
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24 May 10, (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
Diggers Club sell Melbourne-local runners.
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02 Apr 10, Lynne Brogan (Australia - temperate climate)
Scarlet Runner beans are perennial (3 to 4 years but loosing vigour each year). Do I let them die back or cut them back after they have finished bearing, and if I cut them back,how close to the ground do I cut them. back to ground level
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15 Feb 10, David Rickertt (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Can someone tell what gaudia beans like in the way of water & fertiziler i am growing them but don't know a lot about them david R
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22 Jan 10, Gladys Cutajar (Australia - temperate climate)
Can anyone tell me how to freeze beans properly. Mine seem to be really soggy when I cook them. I don't blanch them and cook in only a small amount of water.
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15 Jan 10, (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
Can I plant scarlet runner plants now , I live in hobart , tas
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05 Jan 10, Kate (Australia - temperate climate)
Scarlet runner beans will only set when it is cool.... any heat at all will make lots of beautiful flowers but no beans. They will set beans in early autumn but always insist on coming up and flowering too early. Next year try covering them with very thick mulch to keep the soil cool so they come up later.
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23 Apr 16, Vivienne (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
The answer for pod set on scarlet runners is to use a fine mist of water on the flowers in the early morning or evening. This works a treat and you will end up with a glut.
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04 Jan 10, Lean Lim (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
Help! My scarlet runner beans are producing lots of flowers but no beans. Why are the beans not forming?
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Showing 171 - 180 of 183 comments
See comments for all plants

To make a U cover (better description is an n shape) for climbing beans would be quite a job and probably expensive if you don't have the materials around the yard now. We had climbing bean at the Men's Shed over 8' tall. Beans don't need bees. For dwarf beans you could go to Bunnings and buy a roll of wire netting (dog mesh or similar) - I think they do 5 M rolls. 1200mm or 1500 mm high would be better. Make a shape like a small n - 1200 mm 400 up each side and 400 across the top. With the 1500 mm 500 up each side and 500 across the top. Cover with 50 or 70% shade cloth - ($5/mtr Bunnings). Shade cloth is 1800mm wide - so put that over the top and lay some wood posts or what ever along the cloth on the ground - also put a piece of tin or wood on the end to stop them going in that way. My plants are growing pretty good - will be interesting to see if they flower soon. My tunnel is a little small.

- Mike

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